Living and working in Lithuania

💳 Cost of living

Be realistic while planning your expenses during your stay in Lithuania - it is essential that you have enough money for the whole duration of your study period!

The likely monthly living costs are provided below. These costs are based on a student who lives in Vilnius or Kaunas and has no dependents. Tuition fees, residence permit expenses and trips to your home country are not included.

The estimated cost of living per month:

Accommodation at VU dormitories

> EUR 44-174

Food

> EUR 175

Materials for studies (stationery, textbooks, printing and photocopying, other materials)

> EUR 43

Social/leisure (EUR ~5.50 for a movie ticket + 25 EUR for other activities like theatre)

> EUR 30

Public transport (with student discount)

> EUR 5.80

Personal care (hygiene, medicine, haircut)

> EUR 35

Other

> EUR 60

TOTAL

> EUR ~457.80

It may seem that living in Lithuania can be quite expensive but there are a few ways to ensure yourself a good living (although please keep in mind that you must be able to maintain financial stability during the whole study period even without these options). The first option for you would be to get a student loan (if you are an EU student) or get a scholarship. The other option for you would be to get a part-time job.

💼 Working in Lithuania

Degree students are allowed to work not more than 20 hours per week in accordance with the Lithuanian legislation.

> For citizens from the EU/EEA:

If you are a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you have a right to work in Lithuania. The citizens of EU states and the members of their families, who move to Lithuania for more than three months, are issued the certificate of a set form by the Minister of the Interior every six months that gives their right to live in the country. The same regulations are applied to citizens of the countries of the European Free Trade Association. The family members of citizens of the EU who are not citizens of the EU are issued EU residence permits.

> For citizens from non-EU/EEA countries:

If you are a non-EU citizen and intend to work in Lithuania, you must obtain the permission to reside temporarily (TRP) and obtain a working permit from the Lithuanian Labour Exchange. You will only be able to start your studies from the second year.

> Job search:

Job search can get pretty difficult because of the formalities that employers must handle and the language barrier. We recommend that you should look for a job on the Internet, take part at the Vilnius University “Karjeros dienos” (Career Days) events or contact the organizations that you would like to work at.

These are the websites where you could find some relevant job offers: workinlithuania.lt, cvonline.lt, cvmarket.lt, etc.

! Need help with finding your career path/getting an internship? The counsellors at the Carrer Centre of the Student Affairs and Career Office at Vilnius University may help you! More information

🏦 Opening a bank account

Keeping large amounts of money in cash is usually not the best idea. If you get a monthly scholarship from Vilnius University you will be asked to open a bank account as well.

This is a list of six commercial banks holding a license from the Bank of Lithuania for your convenience:

Banks have a limited number of accounts for international students and some of them charge an annual fee. We would highly recommend you to find a balance between the fee and offered conditions.

Your mentor (ESNBuddy) would be the best help for you to obtain a bank account.

NOTE: You must close your account before leaving the country!

🚌 Public transport

Public transport is the cheapest way to travel around Vilnius and Kaunas (and it is good for the environment too!).

Public transport in Vilnius

Trolleybuses and buses start running at 5:00 in the morning and stop running at midnight. There are as well night buses that run overnight. The timetables can be found on the official Vilnius Public Transport website http://www.vilniustransport.lt/en/ or on mobile applications such as “m.Ticket” or “Trafi”. The apps are easy to use and give the most accurate timetables so they are highly recommended for you.

There are two ways to buy your tickets for public transport:

> Buying a paper ticket from the driver on board

This option is recommended when you do not use public transport as often and are likely to have your mobile device off during your travelling. The price for students is 0.50 € - it is only applied when the students have their LSIC (LP) card with them (the full cost is 1€). Remember to mark the ticket after you purchase it from the driver! Keep in mind that for night buses only valid tickets purchased from the driver.

> Buying an e-ticket

You could use e-ticket which is already integrated into your LSIC (LSP) or purchase a public transport card “Vilniečio kortelė” for 1.50 €. As well you can buy your tickets on the previously mentioned apps “m.Ticket” and “Trafi”. Buying an e-ticket is cheaper and more convenient.

Students get a discount for public transport if they have their LSIC (LSP) card with them. These are the prices for public transport in Vilnius (when using e-ticket):

Types of tickets

Regular price (EUR)

With the student discount (EUR)

30 minute e-ticket

Trafi, m.Ticket or Vilniečio kortelė /LSIC (LSP)

0,65

0,33

60 minute e-ticket

0,90

0,45

1 day (24h) e-ticket

5,00

2,50

30 days e-ticket

29,00

5,80

90 days e-ticket

Vilniečio kortelė /LSIC (LSP)

72,00

14,40

Single one journey ticket in paper form (purchased from the bus driver)

1,00

0,50

Remember to activate your e-ticket when using the transport services, otherwise, you will be charged a fixed amount. E-ticket readers are available onboard of public vehicle.

You may buy the “Vilniečio kortelė” card or top-up your LSIC at the newspaper stands or in the places marked by the special sign “Vilniaus viešasis transportas” (VVT) (Vilnius Public Transport). In order to do that you need to give it to the seller at any point of sale and accurately specify what type of tickets you would like to purchase. You must always have your card when getting on the means of transport.

Public transport in Kaunas

Trolleybuses and buses start running at 6:30 in the morning and stop running at 22:00 in the evening. There are as well night buses on weekends and festive days. The timetables can be found on the website www.stops.lt/kaunas/#kaunas/en or on mobile applications such as “Trafi”. It is easy to use and gives the most accurate timetables so we would highly recommend it for you.

There are two ways to buy your tickets for public transport:

> Buying an e-ticket

You could use e-ticket which is already integrated into your LSIC (LSP) or you purchase a public transport card “Kauno kortelė” for 1.50 € (highly recommended). Buying an e-ticket has a lot more advantages because it is a lot cheaper and convenient.

> Buying a paper ticket from the driver on board

This option is only recommended when you do not use public transport as often and are likely to have your mobile device off during your travelling. You do not need to mark the ticket. Keep in mind that for night buses only valid tickets purchased from the driver.

Remember to activate your e-ticket when using the transport services, otherwise, you will be charged a fixed amount. E-ticket readers are available onboard of public vehicle.

You may buy and top-up the card “Kauno kortelė“ at the newspaper stands or in the places marked by the special sign “Kauno Viešasis Transportas” (KVT) (Kaunas Public Transport). You must always have your card when getting on the means of transport.

📞 Telephone

For those who want to use a mobile phone in Lithuania may choose between three mobile phone companies: Telia, Tele2 or Bite. It is much cheaper to use a pre-paid card of one of these companies than to use the services of your home country.

You could get the pre-paid card in most of the grocery stores or the specialized company shops. There you could also get information on the best ways to use your card. Please find the addresses of subdivisions of these companies by following the provided links.

⛅ Climate

Lithuania’s climate is transitional between maritime and continental. The average temperature is approximately +20ºC (sometimes it rises over +30ºC) in the summertime and -5ºC (it also may fall to -15ºC or -20ºC) in winter so be prepared for changing weather.